Would You Love Me?

By Demetrius Nathan

This month’s blog series is on Foster Care and is part of PCC’s invisible(s) campaign. You can find out more, including ways to help Foster Kids in Los Angeles, on our website, invisibles.la. This week’s blog post is from Demetrius Nathan, PCC’s Director of Youth Ministries, and former Youth Development Specialist at Casa Pacific in Ventura County.

“Would You Love Me?”

Would you love me, if I did not love you back?Would you be there for me, if I showed you I didn’t want you around?What if I didn’t listen to you, would you still listen to me?What if I called you an ASS hole, a Bitch or other not so kind words?WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME!?!If you are still around, I know how I can get you not to love meI can spit on youCall you a racial slurCut myself and say you made me do itCould you still love me!?!What if I hurt you or someone close to you, would you care for me then?It is okay if you wouldn’tYou won’t be the first and I know you won’t be the lastI was expecting thatNot too many people want me around or desire to spend time with me, so it is okayIf I was in your shoes, I wouldn’t want me neither,BUT I NEED YOU TO LOVE ME!!!

~Demetrius R. Nathan

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I wrote this poem 8 years ago as a way to help give a voice to the present-day orphans or as we call them “invisible(s).” Many of the kids I worked with in foster care can’t help but push people away, driven by fearful thinking that one day this person who has opened their doors would leave them as well. On average, a foster child moves 7 times while in placement. ‘Home’ is a place they can only imagine and hope for, and unfortunately, it’s not a tangible or real place in their current reality. But our Lord God loves these children and has called you and I to love them as well.

Matthew 25:40 reads:

The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

When asked, “would you love me?” Sadly, I’ve responded “no” many times, but my God reminds me that His grace is sufficient and that I have power in the Cross of Jesus Christ. We the Church have the opportunity and responsibility to love these children not only in word, but in action.

James 1:27:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” May the cross be our center focus in understanding the Gospel.

1 John 3:16:

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

Let us all stand and let the world know our God is Mighty to Save!!! My hope is that we as a church and individually pursue them in prayer and love them in action.

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If you are interested in helping foster children in Los Angeles County, go to our website, invisibles.la, which has various ways you can get involved.